Incarcerated Chitungwiza town clerk Godfrey Tanyanyiwa, who is charged with swindling ratepayers and council of over $790 000 through shady transactions, will remain locked as the court ruled there are possibilities he could interfere and/or threaten witnesses if released.
However, Harare magistrate Anita Tshuma gave the State up to Tuesday next week to complete its investigations before deciding on whether Tanyanyiwa could be granted bail.
There is a likelihood of interference given that the State has valid reasons and there is need to balance the liberty of the accused person and the administration of justice, Tshuma said in her ruling before turning down Tanyanyiwas application for bail.
Tanyanyiwa has been in custody since his arrest on Thursday last week on 66 counts of fraud, criminal abuse of office and renting out his personal property to the local authority without declaring an interest.
Meanwhile, Chitungwiza Municipality director of housing and community services Jemina Gumbo (33) also appeared before the same magistrate facing 46 counts of criminal abuse of office.
Gumbo was not asked to plead, but was remanded out of custody to March 1 on $500 bail.
As part of her bail conditions, Gumbo was ordered to surrender her passport to the clerk of court and report once every Friday at Rhodesville Police Station.
She was barred from visiting Seke South District offices and Chitungwiza Town Council head offices. Allegations against Gumbo are that between June 2008 and July last year, she allocated residential and commercial stands to individuals and organisations without publicising in the Press as required by law.
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The State alleges by omitting to advertise as required, Gumbo allegedly showed favour to current beneficiaries and disfavour to other people who could have properly benefited from the same stands.
Other organisations that allegedly benefited from Gumbo were Emmanuel Makandiwas United Faith International Church which was allocated two stands for construction of a stadium and a hotel, Peoples University in Africa and Zimbabwe Cricket Union.
